Improvement in processes of converting vegetable fiber into papier-mache



UNITED STATES PATENT Gnnron CHARLES E. RAMUS, OF NEW YORK, AND GEORGE J.onnennson, OF BROOKLYN, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES OF CONVERTING VEGETABLE FIBER INTOPAPIER-MACHE, 8L0.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,100, dated October28, 1879, application filed November 22, 1878. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. RAMUs, of New York, in the county of NewYork, and GEORGE J. GREGERSON, of Brooklyn,'=in the county of Kings andState of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Process forConverting Vegetable Fiber into Papier- Mach, and for other purposes;and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Theinvention relates to convertingthe fibers of various woods andvegetables into pulp or a kind of papier-mach. Of course other substances may be added to make the true papiermach, as known in the arts.

Said invention consists in the process hereinafter fully set forth andin the material thereby produced.

In carrying out our process we take aboiler seven feet in diameter byeight feet in height, with a capacity of about two thousand five hundredgallons. This boiler has a false bottom of cast iron, like a gratecovered with a sieve, and four inches distant from the true bottom. Thesteam is carried directly in between these two bottoms.

In the top of the boiler is a large manhole for filling or emptying thesame. First, two thousand five hundred pounds of the raw material areput into this boiler. We then, in another vat, mixone hundred and twentypounds of caustic soda with eight hundred gallons of water, which makesa solution weighing 3 (Twaddell N 0.1.) To this is added a solution ofchloride of lime, made as follows: sixty-six pounds of chloride of limedissolved in four hundred gallons of water, making a solution to stand1% (Twaddell No. 1.) These two solutions are mixed and then put into theboiler with the raw material. turned on under the false bottom with apressure of forty-five poundsto the square inch, said pressure to bekept up for five hours. After this the steam is turned off and the stuffThe boiler is then closed and the steam left in the boiler for fourhours. The dirty lye is then drawn off through a cock in the bottom ofthe boiler, and sufficient clear water is injected into the boiler toperfectly wash the material. After being thoroughly washed the resultantfiber is removed from the boiler into a wooden tank of a capacity of twothousand gallons. Over this is poured a solution of sulphuric acidprepared as follows: three hundred pounds commercial sulphuric acid,diluted in one thousand gallons of water, said solution to mark 3(Twaddell No. 1,)' stirred thoroughly together and left to remain inthis statefor two hours. Theliquid is then drawn off by means of, a cockplaced near the bottom of said tank, the opening of which is to becovered by a sieve.

Clear water is injected into the tankwith which the fiber is thoroughlywashed. After which the fiber is removed from the tank ready for market.

We have now fully set forth the process by which we reduce the fibrouswoods to pulpy fiber for various uses in the arts analogous to the usesof papier-mach.

The article produced may be subjected to various treatment to adapt itto different uses, and a good quality of paper is capable of be in gmade from it.

We do not confine ourselves to treating any special raw material, thoughwe shall preferably use pine tops, pine leaves, and the like as beingmost available and having fibers in ahundance.-

The material produced is a dried fibrous pulp, which is sold tomanufacturers of paper and papier-mach articles.

It is obvious that any of the known equivalents of the chemicalsmentioned by us may be used without departing from our invention, or anyequivalent mechanical apparatus to that mentioned without departing fromour invention.

Referring back to the specification we claim-- The process hereindescribed for reducing fibrous woods to pulp or pulpy fiber, which-salts, then treating it with dilute acid to neutralize any traces ofalkali and finally washing it to remove the acid and salts substantiallyas specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have affixed oursignatures in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. RAMUS. .s.| GEORGE J, GREGERSON. [L. s] I \Vitnesses:

E. R. J OHNES, GURTEZ BEMI.

